One pot direct catalytic conversion of cellulose to C3 and C4 hydrocarbons using Pt/H-USY zeolite catalyst at low temperature

One-pot direct catalytic conversion of cellulose to light hydrocarbon at low temperature (443 K) in the presence of Pt-zeolite catalysts and water was investigated. Results revealed that Pt supported on H+-form ultra stable Y-type (H-USY) zeolite catalyst (Pt/H-USY) enabled direct conversion of cellulose into C-3 and C-4 hydrocarbons without hydrogen and other expensive reagents. This production trend is attributable to the bifunctional catalysis of supported Pt and acid site in H-USY zeolite, which has a large pore system and effective acidity. Results revealed that the pre-treatment of catalyst was important for selective olefin production. Air-oxidized Pt/H-USY catalyst showed higher olefin selectivity than the catalyst reduced with hydrogen. The Pt/H-USY catalysts showed high stability under the reaction condition. Results suggest that C-5 sugars were the reaction intermediate for the C-3 hydrocarbons, and C-6 sugars were the intermediate for C-4 hydrocarbon formation from cellulose over Pt/H-USY catalysts. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.